Later that night, after David had fallen asleep watching television and Michael was in bed, the phone rang.
Molly was standing next to the phone in the kitchen, pouring Diet Pepsi into a glass with ice in it, and she grabbed the receiver after the first ring so Michael wouldn’t be awakened.
She expected the call to be for David; he’d mentioned something concerning Josh phoning about work. But the caller, a woman, asked for her.
“You’re David Jones’s wife?” the woman said in a clipped, educated voice.
Molly said that she was.
“You don’t know me, Molly. My name’s Darlene.”
Molly remembered Traci mentioning a woman who’d called Link Publishing looking for her. Darlene. Molly was pretty sure that had been the name. Maybe this was about a copyediting job. But at this hour?
“I feel I should warn you about someone,” Darlene said. “There’s a woman named Deirdre.”
“I know her,” Molly said in a choked voice, speaking softly. She didn’t want David to wake up and hear.
“She means you harm,” Darlene said.
Molly didn’t want to think about Deirdre, didn’t want any more trouble or even to talk about trouble. She wished fervently that she could hang up the phone and pretend it had never rung.
But she knew she couldn’t. She had to talk with Darlene.
“You’re warning’s a little late,” she said. She could feel a muscle in the right side of her neck twitching. “Deirdre’s already tried to kill me.”
“Are you sure?” Darlene sounded aghast.
“I’m sure. There are some who don’t believe it, but I’m sure.”
“I believe you,” Darlene said, “though I didn’t think she’d go that far this soon. I mean, she’s a little weird. Well…more than a little. And I know something’s building in her.”
“Where do you know her from?” Molly asked.
“From the time she came to New York, not long ago. At first she seemed okay, I liked her. Then I noticed some things about her. I didn’t mind. Okay, so she was eccentric. Lots of my friends are oddballs. It didn’t bother me that she had a strange view of the world. Then she started talking like she was crazy, telling me about things she thought, things she’d done. After a while your name came up. And your husband’s.”
Molly squeezed the receiver. “David’s?”
“Deirdre has some…well, kind of possessive ideas about him. I guess you know they were married a long time ago.”
“David’s told me. That’s no secret.”
“Deirdre thinks she can steal him from you. I mean, seriously.”
“How do you know this?”
“She trusts me and talks to me. I might be the only person she can trust in New York, so she tells me things in confidentiality. And I’d keep them confidential, only they’re so…weird. You should watch out for Deirdre.”
“What’s she told you about David?”
“I don’t want to repeat it, because I don’t know how much of it’s true. But I’m sure some of it is. Sure enough that I figured I had to call you.”
Molly was still trying to figure out what the phone call meant. For some reason, she believed this woman, and she had no idea why. “How much does Deirdre tell you?” she asked.
“Not everything. She’s basically untrusting and manipulative. People like that always keep some things to themselves.”
“What has she said about me?”
“She doesn’t like you, Molly. It isn’t just that you’re in her way, that you have something she wants. She really doesn’t like you. She thinks you stole her life.”
“You mean because I’m married to David?”
“I guess so. Even though a lot of time has passed since they were together, she wants him and won’t let go of the idea. Sometimes she talks almost like she’s lost her mind.”
“Darlene, did you phone Link Publishing and ask for me?”
“No, it must have been someone else. Some other Darlene.”
“What’s your last name? Who are you?”
“I can’t tell you that. I don’t want to get involved. I only called you because it was my duty. Something terrible is going to happen. I can sense it. You’re not the only one I’ve had to warn.”
“Can I have your phone number?” Molly asked.
“No. I said I didn’t want to get involved.”
“But you are involved!”
“Only to the extent that I felt I should warn you about Deirdre. If she’s already tried to kill you, you need to make sure she won’t try again.”
“Can we meet someplace, talk some more?”
“No. I cautioned you, and that’s enough. I had a responsibility to do that.”
“Are you afraid of Deirdre?”
“Sometimes, yes. You should be, too. Goodbye, Molly.”
“Wait! Please! Will you call if you learn anything else I should know?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve done what I decided was necessary. Be on your guard, Molly. Deirdre wants what’s yours. And there’s something about her. I think she always gets what she wants.”
“Darlene-”
“Listen, I’m sorry. We’ve talked long enough. And don’t mention to anyone that I called. Especially David. I wouldn’t want Deirdre to find out.”
“Why don’t you tell me some way I can get in touch with you?”
There was only soft silence on the line. Darlene had hung up, but not before uttering, “She’s dangerous.”